Originally posted by HokienauticSo far I tend to agree that his delivery is quite slow, but I think that can be improved. He seems to have one aspect down -- he sounds more like he's talking rather than reading, which is one of the concerns I have with Cena at times.

When Adamle was talking live at the opening of Raw, he seemed to be just repeating what was being fed to him thru his earpiece.

The best part of waking up, is not Folgers in your cup, but knowing that Chuck Norris didn't kill you in your sleep.

Originally posted by Hokienautiche sounds more like he's talking rather than reading, which is one of the concerns I have with Cena at times. Who really talks like some of his promos?

I think Cena sounds like he's talking rather than reading, he just sounds like he's talking in a school play sometimes, delivering overwritten lines full of similes about cataclysmic battles and all that.

Originally posted by JustinShapiroI think Cena sounds like he's talking rather than reading, he just sounds like he's talking in a school play sometimes, delivering overwritten lines full of similes about cataclysmic battles and all that.

They replayed audio from his most recent ballyhooed speech before the JBL street fight. We heard the bit about "winking in the devil's eye," and it takes someone with the charisma of Dusty Rhodes to carry that stuff off. Cena has a different style -- cribbed off hip-hop -- and that is where he needs to hover when he starts a promo.

But when he gets rolling, forget it. He's masterful. The best since the Rock.

A tale of two RAWs this week for me. I had a lot of fun with hour one and then it took a nosedive into Shitsville. I absolutely hated the second hour, although I dug most of the World Tag Team Title match.

Mike Adamle scored big points with me when he invoked Ronald Reagan. I love when the GMs model themselves after famous world leaders. Theodore Long had portraits of Martin Luther King and Mr. McMahon on his office wall. William Regal looked up to Queen Elizabeth II and occasionally Elton John, if I remember correctly. (All GMs seem to worship WWE Magazine since there's always a framed portrait of the latest issue on their wall.) And now Mike Adamle fancies himself as Reaganesque. Well, jury's out on that, unless someone tries to assassinate him.

Adamle's character was interesting to me. Some thought he'd be portrayed as a clueless GM. Some (like me) figured he'd be outright vindictive and heelish. Instead he acted like he wanted to prove he could do a good job and earn some respect. He was met with the expected torrent of boos but the matches he made didn't get negative reactions. He wisely shut the hell up when JBL and Chris Jericho, two of the best promo men in the company, were beside him arguing. (I did like Adamle's "Whaddaya say about that? Hah?" after he made the handicap match with CM Punk.)

I do like some aspects of Adamle's style so far. I like the graphics when matches are "An Adamle Original". Apparently, Mike Adamle GM Rule #1 is he doesn't think anyone should get more than one ring entrance. Since Katie Lea was already in the ring for Paul Birchill's losing effort against Kofi "In Jamaica, we are free to kick women in the head, mon" Kingston, her match with Mickie James started immediately. Mike Adamle GM Rule #: If you're already out there, you stay out there.

Mickie James might be the most emotional Diva on the roster. In every match, even when she wins, her face is flushed and she looks like she's one "owie" away from bursting into tears. I was hoping this would be the night Katie takes the Women's Title, but the Burchills seem doomed to lose every feud they instigate.

Hard to be upset about it when Beth Phoenix finally asserted herself as the number one contender to Mickie. Santino's unibrow is glorious and their ass grabbing was sensational. Who can blame "that glamorous amazon" for being interested in Santino? The Winner Take All Tag Match for the Intercontinental and Women's Titles doesn't make much logical sense since the two men wouldn't want the Women's Title, unless Kofi Kingston harbors secret dreams of being Women's Champion. The route for the most comedy would be Santino winning both belts at Summerslam, and I'd love it, but a comedy angle like this seems like a really crappy ass way to end both Kofi and Mickie's title reigns.

Everything started to go down hill from there. Chris Jericho in trunks is still weird to me. The only thing weirder now would be seeing Undertaker in wrestling trunks. Jericho's shiny, glistening shaven legs were blinding. I thought the finish to the handicap match was amazingly well executed, right down to the last second, and I sure don't mind watching Punk lay down, but ugh! JBL vs. Punk at Summerslam? Ugh. All three World Title matches look like ass on paper. They're completely relying on Hell in a Cell and John Cena vs. Batista to sell Summerslam if they're booking three such awful World Title matches. This is how they book the 20th anniversary Summerslam?

Babyface Kane sucks. God, I hate babyface Kane. If he's not setting Jim Ross's ass on fire, Tombstoning Linda McMahon, marrying Lita, or strapping a car battery to Shane McMahon's balls, I have no use for Kane. "I went through a rough patch and I'm doing better now"? Get off my TV, Kane, and don't come back unless there are jumper cables in your Burlap Sack of Mystery.

So once a year John Cena must have an Odd Couple tag team angle where he wins the tag belts with the guy he's feuding with. Swell. It was too soon to sacrifice Ted DiBiase and Cody Rhodes's tag title reign to selling a Cena vs. Batista match. I hated the start of the match but I got into it when DiBiase and Rhodes fell into a groove and started that Brain Busters tag team wrestling I love so much. Quick tags in and out. Double teams. Cutting the ring off and keeping the opponent in the wrong part of town. I hear Gorilla Monsoon in my head during their matches.

I loved Batista not making any effort to tag Cena and then switching to the other side of the corner. (What? He thought Cena was closer from that side!) Ric Flair taught Batista well in being an dick tag team partner. I was almost sure Batista was going to pull a classic Flair turn: tag in and then immediately turn on Cena the way Flair did Sting. Instead Batista squashed the two kids and won the belts by himself. I'd have preferred a Flair-style turn instead of the Lex Luger and Bret Hart 1994 popularity contest. Although I'm 100% behind Batista.

I mostly loved the past month of RAWs but seems like they threw a lot of that good momentum away just to sell a crappy looking Summerslam. Smells like another McMahon Original.

Originally posted by John OrquiolaHard to be upset about it when Beth Phoenix finally asserted herself as the number one contender to Mickie. Santino's unibrow is glorious and their ass grabbing was sensational. Who can blame "that glamorous amazon" for being interested in Santino? The Winner Take All Tag Match for the Intercontinental and Women's Titles doesn't make much logical sense since the two men wouldn't want the Women's Title, unless Kofi Kingston harbors secret dreams of being Women's Champion. The route for the most comedy would be Santino winning both belts at Summerslam, and I'd love it, but a comedy angle like this seems like a really crappy ass way to end both Kofi and Mickie's title reigns.

I think "winner take all" means the team wins the belts....so if Santino's team wins, he gets the IC Title and Beth gets the women's title, and if Kofi's team wins....I guess they just retain. It's not "whoever gets the pin gets both belts."

I think "winner take all" means the team wins the belts....so if Santino's team wins, he gets the IC Title and Beth gets the women's title, and if Kofi's team wins....I guess they just retain. It's not "whoever gets the pin gets both belts."